For a band that only a few years ago was pounding out Southern rock for hometown Alabama crowds, the Alabama Shakes stirred up a ruckus at the Grammys.
The band, co-founded by Brittany Howard, was nominated for the prestigious album of the year award for its captivating 2015 album “Sound and Color.” Though it lost to Taylor Swift’s “1989,” the band ran the table in the rock categories.
Grammys 2016: Full coverage | Best and worst dressed | Red carpet | Show highlights | Nominees and winners | Top nominees
The Shakes beat out Grammy favorites Foo Fighters (as well as Florence and the Machine, Wolf Alice and Elle King) in the rock performance category, and carried away awards for rock song and alternative album. The band’s engineers on the album, Shawn Everett and mastering engineer Bob Ludwig, won a trophy for engineered album, non-classical, as well.
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A look at the show highlights from the 2016 Grammys. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images for NARAS;Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images for NARAS; Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)
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Taylor Swift accepts the award for album of the year for “1989.” (Matt Sayles / Invision/Associated Press)
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Philip Bailey, from left, Verdine White and Ralph Johnson of Earth Wind & Fire present the award for album of the year. (Matt Sayles / Invision/Associated Press)
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Pitbull performs “Taxi” with actress Sofia Vergara dancing to close out the show. (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)
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Pitbull performs “Taxi.” (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)
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Mark Ronson accepts the award for the record of the year, for “Uptown Funk,” with Bruno Mars, center. (Robyn Beck/ AFP/Getty Images)
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Bruno Mars holds up the award for record of the year for “Uptown Funk” as he thanks the fans. (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)
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Beyonce presents the final award of the night, record of the year. (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)
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Lady Gaga pays tribute to David Bowie by singing through nearly half a dozen of his songs, including “Ziggy Stardust,” “Fashion” and “Heroes.” (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)
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Lady Gaga pays tribute to David Bowie by singing nearly half a dozen of his songs, including “Space Oddity,” “Rebel Rebel” and “Under Pressure.”
(Robyn Becl / AFP/Getty Images)
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A teary Meghan Trainor recieves the award for best new artist. (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)
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Sam Smith presents the award for best new artist onstage. (Robyn Beck/ AFP/Getty Images)
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Rapper Kendrick Lamar, center, performs a rendition of his songs “The Blacker the Berry” and “Alright.” (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images for NARAS)
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Rapper Kendrick Lamar, center, performs a rendition of his songs “The Blacker the Berry” and “Alright.” (Matt Sayles/Invision/Associated Press)
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Rapper Kendrick Lamar, center, performs a rendition of his songs “The Blacker the Berry” and “Alright.” (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images for NARAS)
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Musician Dave Grohl takes the stage. (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)
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Alice Cooper, left, and Joe Perry of Hollywood Vampires perform songs including “As Bad As I Am” and “Ace of Spades.” (Matt Sayles / Invision/AP)
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Johnny Deppy performs onstage with Hollywood Vampires. (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)
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Kaley Cuoco introduces Justin Bieber and Jack U. (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)
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Justin Bieber performs “Love Yourself” and “Where Are U Now” onstage with Jack U. (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)
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Skrillex of Jack U performs onstage with Justin Bieber. (Matt Sayles / Invision/AP)
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Adele takes the stage with a performance of her song “All I Ask.” (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images for NARAS)
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Don Cheadle introduces a performance by Kendrick Lamar. (Matt Sayles/Invision/Associated Press)
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Brittany Howard of the Alabama Shakes accepts the award for rock performance for “Don’t Wanna Fight.” (Matt Sayles / Invision/AP)
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Bruno Mars hits the stage. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Twelve-year-old jazz pianist Joey Alexander smiles as the audience cheers after his performance. (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)
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Singer Tori Kelly sings a rendition of her song “Hollow” with James Bay. (Robyn Beck/ AFP/Getty Images)
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Tori Kelly, left, and James Bay embrace after perfoming a rendition of their songs “Hollow” and “Let It Go.” (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images for NARAS)
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Miguel performs the song “Off the Wall” onstage. (Matt Sayles / Invision/AP)
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Ed Sheeran recieves the award for song of the year, “Thinking Out Loud.” (Robyn Beck/ AFP / Getty Images)
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Stevie Wonder, center, and Mitch Grassing, left, Kristin Maldonado and Kevin Olusola of Pentatonix present the award for song of the year. (Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)
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Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes offers up a powerful performance with the song “Don’t Wanna Fight.” (Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)
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Actor-filmmaker Seth MacFarlane speaks onstage. (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images for NARAS)
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The Eagles perform onstage in a tribute to the late Glenn Frey. (Robyn Beck/ AFP/Getty Images)
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The Eagles perform onstage in a tribute to the late Glenn Frey. (Robyn Beck/ AFP/Getty Images)
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tribute to MusiCares Person of the Year honoree Richie. (Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)
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during a tribute to MusiCares Person of the Year honoree Richie. (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images for NARAS)
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tribute to MusiCares Person of the Year honoree Lionel Richie. (Robyn Beck / AFP / Getty Images)
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Demi Lovato sings “Hello” for a tribute to MusiCares Person of the Year honoree Lionel Richie. (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images for NARAS)
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John Legend performs “East” for a tribute to MusiCares Person of the Year honoree Lionel Richie. (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images for NARAS)
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LL Cool J, left, and James Corden introduce a tribute to Lionel Richie. (Matt Sayles / Invision / Associated Press)
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Little Big Town performs the song “Girl Crush.” (Robyn Beck/ AFP/Getty Images)
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Chris Stapleton receives the Grammy country album for “Traveller” onstage. (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)
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Singer Andra Day, right, and Ellie Goulding team up to sing “Rise Up” and “Love Me Like You Do.” (Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)
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Host LL Cool J greets the crowd. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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The Weeknd performs two hit songs, including “Can’t Feel My Face” and “In the Night.” (Matt Sayles / Invision/AP)
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Ariana Grande introduces a performance by the Weeknd, and does her own rendition of his hit song “Earned It.” (Matt Sayles / Invision/AP)
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Actor O’Shea Jackson, left, and rapper/actor Ice Cube announce the nominees for rap album. (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images for NARAS)
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Kendrick Lamar recieves the Grammy for his rap album “To Pimp a Butterfly” as Ice Cube looks on. (Robyn Beck/ AFP/Getty Images)
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Singers Sam Hunt and Carrie Underwood perform “Take Your Time” and “Heartbeat” onstage. (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images for NARAS)
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NFL player Anquan Boldin and NFL player Von Miller announce nominees onstage. (Robyn Beck/ AFP/Getty Images)
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Taylor Swift opens the show with her song “Out of the Woods.” (Matt Sayles/Invision/Associated Press)
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“Girl Crush” by Little Big Town takes home the Grammy for country duo/group performance. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Jazz pianist Joey Alexander, 12, takes a bow following his performance at the pre-telecast show. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Musicians Peter “Peetah” Morgan, left, Roy “Gramps” Morgan and Nakamyah “Lukes” Morgan of Morgan Heritage accept the award for reggae album for “Strictly Roots” at the pre-telecast show. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Tony Bennett and Bill Charlap accept the Grammy for traditional pop vocal album for “Tony Bennett & Bill Charlap, the Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern.” (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Abigail Washburn and Bela Fleck head for the stage to accept their Grammy for folk album at the pre-telecast show. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Though the Shakes have been nominated three times before, Monday’s trophies were their first.
“I never thought I’d be here doing this,” said Howard, receiving the award for rock performance on behalf of her bandmates standing behind her. “When we started this, we were in high school -- me and our bass player right here -- and we just did it for fun. We never thought we would get any awards or recognition like this. I tell you, my heart is beating a mile a minute right here.”
She then thanked members of the band’s team before adding, “It’s beautiful, and I promise that we’re going to keep going.”
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The Weeknd kisses one of his Grammys. He won for R&B performance and urban contemporary album.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 2/13
Taylor Swift cradles her Grammys for album of the year, pop vocal album and music video backstage at the 58th Grammy Awards at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 3/13
Alabama Shakes hold their Grammys for alternative music album, rock song and rock performance steady.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 4/13
Chris Stapleton displays his Grammys backstage for country album (“Traveller”) and country solo performance (“Traveller”).
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 5/13
Meghan Trainor is all about that Grammy for best new artist.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 6/13
Producer Mark Ronson, winner of the pop duo/group performance award for “Uptown Funk,” poses in the press room. He would also win record of the year for that megahit single.
(Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images for NARAS) 7/13
Metal performance winners Ghost backstage at the Grammy Awards.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 8/13
Angelique Kidjo balances her Grammy for world music album.
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) 9/13
Pentatonix members, from left, Ben Bram, Mitch Grassi, Scott Hoying, Avi Kaplan, Kristin Maldonado, and Kevin Olusola, share the Grammy for arrangement, instrumental or a cappella for “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.”
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 10/13
Muse’s Matt Bellamy, left, and Dominic Howard won the rock album Grammy for “Drones.”
(Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images for NARAS) 11/13
Kirk Franklin, right, winner of the Grammy for gospel performance for the song “Wanna Be Happy?”
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 12/13
Singer-songwriter Jason Isbell won the Grammys for Americana album (“Something More Than Free”) and American roots song (“24 Frames”).
(Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images for NARAS) 13/13
Tobymac won the contemporary Christian music album Grammy for “This Is Not a Test.”
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) In fact, they’re going hard. A thrilling live band -- as anyone who witnessed Monday’s performance of “Don’t Wanna Fight” can attest -- the Shakes will be continuing to tour in support of “Sound & Color” throughout 2016.
In March, they’ll tour South America before returning to the states for a late spring tour of the South and a series of summer festival dates. They’ll bring their show to the Greek Theatre on Aug. 9. That show isn’t yet sold out, but tickets are running short.
randall.roberts@latimes.com
Follow Randall Roberts on Twitter and Instagram: @liledit
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